Summertime fun

July and August are traditionally quiet months for us, so much so that we try to encourage the head office team to take most of their holidays during this period. But this is proving to be quite a mistake this year as the past few weeks have been particularly hectic.

A few loud thuds have been heard on the office doormat, marking the arrival of a mountain of tenders, often put together by consultants, to work through.

One wonders whether the volumes of information would be required or even necessary if it were not for games that our larger competitors have been playing for so long. While they criticise the consultants, is it not their own practices that have made the consultant's role so vital?

As a small player in a big market-place and keen to expand, we welcome the opportunities these tenders present and devote huge amounts of time to filling them in. Our only frustration is that they give little opportunity to "sell" the advantages of a small company and sometimes seem to project us as inadequate because we don't have layers of reporting managers and regional offices.

Such is the extent of the information required that my husband Tim's usual response is negative (Tim is company chairman) as commercial director Alison Robinson and I carve the work up between us. But we enjoy the challenge.

Alison's success and support since joining the company has been very important. We have a like-minded approach to tenders - that they are a potential source of business and we have as much opportunity of gaining it as the next person.

Consultants are not always used in the tendering process, however, and we have recently experienced our quickest deal. From the initial meeting with the client to being awarded the contract and eventually operating it took just 13 days.

Five working days was the challenge to go "live". This was easily achieved as we did not have to conform to bureaucratic policies and head office paperwork. On the first day of operation we were also awarded the vending contract due to a "hiccup" with the selected beverage company.

Caroline Fry, our operations manager, has subsequently been busy with interviews and internal promotions. Once again we are looking for some fresh blood to join the company.

On a more relaxing note, at the beginning of the month we held our client summer party, which looks likely to become an annual event. As last year, we met for Champagne and canapés at our offices before heading off to the Thames for a cruise on a Victorian Steamboat and lunch served on board.

A good time was had by all, despite our steel band getting lost along the way, resulting in a quieter cruise than planned!

Next diary from Robyn Jones is on 30 August